Born to Jack E. Brown, a successful lawyer, and Suzanne J. Brown, an art gallery owner, Brown graduated from Arizona State University in 1993. She then proceeded to study at Stanford Law School (never actually receiving a law degree), where she compiled funny letters and stories based on her experiences into a first manuscript that would become the novel Legally Blonde.[1]

Since the success of the 2001 film, Brown has released her second book, Family Trust, which has also been optioned for a film.[1] Currently she lives with her husband Justin Chang and daughters in San Francisco. Brown's novel School of Fortune is currently being optioned for a film starring Ashley Tisdale, Julie Andrews and Justin Long.[2]